Starbucks Offers Free Coffee on Election Day

Move over Joe the Plumber. The election is getting a new Joe: a free cup of Joe.

Starbucks plans to offer a complimentary size tall cup of brewed coffee to anyone who votes Tuesday. In an advertisement that first aired during NBC’s Saturday Night Live this weekend, the coffee chain says customers just need to come in and say that they voted in order to redeem their brew on Nov. 4 at any of its U.S. locations.

“If you care enough to vote, we care enough to give you a free cup of coffee,” the one-minute ad states. Starbucks spokeswoman Valerie O’Neil said it’s the first time the chain has done such a promotion.

Just how much coffee will Starbucks give away? O’Neil could not estimate what the total amount will be. But highly publicized freebies like this are rare for Starbucks, so voters may want to prepare to wait in line. In Chicago, for instance, that coffee would cost you $1.82.

After launching the promotion with great fanfare, Starbucks spokeswoman Valerie O’Neil said in an email late Monday that the coffee chain changed its plans. “To ensure we are in compliance with election law, we are extending our offer to all customers who request a tall brewed coffee,” O’Neil said in an email.

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